A 17-year-old boy facing charges over allegedly attempting to hijack a Jetstar flight at a Victorian airport with a loaded shotgun is undergoing brain scans to determine if he has any underlying neurological or psychiatric conditions.
The boy, who cannot be identified due to his age, is accused of boarding the plane at Avalon Airport armed with guns and trying to hijack the aircraft before he was overpowered by a pilot and passengers in March.
A still from footage of the boy being restrained by a Jetstar worker, passenger Barry Clark and the pilot.Credit: Defina
The teenager, who was dressed in high-visibility clothing, similar to airport ground crew, was tackled to the ground on the Sydney-bound flight JQ610 and held down until police arrived.
The boy’s lawyer told a brief hearing at a children’s court on Tuesday that the teenager had undergone a series of brain scans while in custody and would be assessed by a forensic child psychologist.
The lawyer said a psychiatrist treating the boy indicated that further medical investigations, including more brain scans, would be required in the coming weeks to determine a clear diagnosis.
“[The medical investigations] are ongoing relating to organic or physiological, [potentially] neurological conditions, and some of those conditions – and when I say some, I do that because I’m not naming them, because there have been a number [of conditions] that have been suggested, none of which have resulted in a diagnosis,” she said.
“But more than one of which has had a symptomatology related to a neurological condition ... [and] some potential psychiatric symptomatology.”
The court was told that four charges against the boy had also been dropped, including a charge of non-prohibited person in possession of a long arm, theft of two 12-gauge shotguns and a rifle, possessing ammunition and driving as a learner while unsupervised.
The teenager, who has been on remand since the incident, appeared in court via video link, sitting with his hands clasped and remaining expressionless for most of the hearing.
Avalon Airport, on the outskirts of Geelong.Credit: Luis Ascui
When asked by the magistrate directly if he understood he was due to face court again in three months, the boy nodded his head before responding: “Yes, I do.”
The boy is accused of stealing two 12-gauge shotguns and a rifle and allegedly had two or more firearms on him as he made his way to Avalon Airport.
According to court documents released to the media, he was allegedly carrying a faux homemade explosive, which had been fashioned to look like a legitimate explosive device.
The court has previously heard that this was the teenager’s first time in custody.
Avalon Airport has launched an urgent internal review of its security arrangements in response to the incident. The Department of Home Affairs, Victoria Police’s counter-terrorism command, and the Cyber and Infrastructure Security Centre are also investigating.
His lawyer did not apply for bail, and the 17-year-old was remanded to return to court on October 21.
with Marta Pascual Juanola
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